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Statewide, elder abuse has risen steadily since 2007. Recent national studies of the elderly population have shown that about 7 percent to 10 percent reported experiencing some kind of abuse in the previous year, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.

There are many forms of elder abuse, and it can be inflicted unintentionally as well as willfully. Abuse of elderly people can be physical or emotional. It can include financial exploitation, confinement of an elderly person or passive neglect of an older person’s needs by an inexperienced caregiver.

Victims of elder abuse are often women with an average age of 79, according to the Illinois Department on Aging website. That means the victim is probably a mother, and her abuser is likely an adult child, grandchild or other family member.

No matter how the abuse occurs, though, it must be stopped.

Experts said there are telltale signs of elder abuse, including changes in personality, missing regular appointments or changing schedule routines. Victims of physical abuse might have welts and bruises, and those suffering financial exploitation might be receiving calls from bill collectors or simply having a lower standard of living.

Illinois operates a 24-hour hotline for people to report suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of an older person at 866-800-1409.

Under Illinois’ Adult Protective Services Act, people who report suspected abuse in good faith and cooperate with authorities are immune from criminal or civil liability.

As the population continues to age, elder abuse will become more common, and increased public vigilance as well as training for people who work with the elderly will be needed to protect the nation’s elderly from those who would do them harm – willfully or otherwise.